10/10 Guidance for Next Week’s Assignment

For Next Week:  Our Assignment

I just wanted to follow up from Thursday and give a little more direction for next week.

As you do your reading, you can use the SOAP method or whatever works best for you.  A couple things that may help for all of us to do, not just those who are presenting,  to get the most out of the study is to do the following as you read:

S- Scripture -
    The passage you are reading – this week is Ephesians chapter 1

    O- Observations -
    Write down some facts/observations that stuck out to you while reading. 

     I – Interpretation – Dig Deeper into what you observed – maybe a word, a verse or a whole section of the

      passage

     – look at the context in surrounding verses.
     Look up a word to find its true meaning in the original language
     Cross-reference a verse to see more depth to the meaning of the verse. 
     Are there any of the Literary Elements used that we discussed on Monday night (see attached Bible Study

     Basics)  Click on this link: 

bible-study-basics

     Is there a Biblical/theological principle in the text that we should be able to take away

A- Application -
    How can I apply the verse to my life so that I can change and become more like Christ?

P- Prayer

Here’s a short example of one Mark did yesterday:
S- Eph 1:3-14

O- Verse 3 “Blessed  be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I asked what does Blessed mean here?  What was Paul trying to convey? 
I also observed how many times it refers to God working

 

 

“3He blessed us,

4He chose us,

5He predestined us to adoption, He freely bestowed grace, He lavished grace on us, He made know to us,” etc
I found it interesting to note that all through this introduction Paul gives praise and glory to God and says that God has done all the work through His grace.  This is going to setup the rest of the book as we will see. 

I – The word Blessed here comes from the same Greek word as eulogy, which means to praise or commend.  This is the highest duty of us as Christians (and of all of God’s creation) – to give Him praise.
I cross-referenced a couple verses with Eph 1:3 that were in the center column – 2 Corinthians 1:3 & 1 Pet 1:3.   Both of them are introductions to other books where the authors start out there letter by giving praise and glory to God for who He is and what He has done. 
I noted all of the action verbs/roles (#8 & #12 from the list of Literary Elements attached) associated to God’s work in my life.

A- If it was important to the apostles to start off by giving praise and glory to God, I should start off my day, my conversations, my new endeavors, – everything I do – by giving God praise and glory.  I should also always point to Him as the one who has provided everything for me and never think that anything comes from myself or by my doing.
When someone tells me I’ve done a good job, I can praise God and give him the glory instead of receiving it for myself.

P – My prayer – God help me to dig deeper into your word and to always focus on giving you praise and glory as my loving, forgiving, providing God.

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